1. About 500,000 sharks could be killed for their natural oil for the production of coronavirus vaccines conservationists have warned, reports Sky News.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB1.jpg)
2. According to the report, one ingredient used in some coronavirus vaccine candidates is squalene, natural oil made in the liver of sharks.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB2.jpg)
3. Squalene is currently used as an adjuvant in medicine – an ingredient that increases the effectiveness of a vaccine by creating a stronger immune response.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB3.jpg)
4. GlaxoSmithKline British pharmaceutical company uses shark squalene in flu vaccines.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB4.jpg)
5. Reportedly, the company said it would manufacture a billion doses of this adjuvant for potential use in COVID-19 vaccines in May.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB5.jpg)
6. Shark Allies, a California-based group, suggests that ‘if the world’s population received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine containing the liver oil, around 250,000 sharks would need to be slaughtered, depending on the amount of squalene used’.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB6.jpg)
7. However, according to researchers, two doses might be needed to immunize the global population, which would increase the number of sharks to be killed to half a million.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB7.jpg)
8. Reportedly, to avoid the threat to shark populations, scientists are testing an alternative to squalene – a synthetic version made from fermented sugar cane.
![](http://www.shortpedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/COVID-Vaccine-FB8.jpg)